Container and coupling system for transferring garanular and other materials

ABSTRACT

A hermetic container and coupling system for transferring granular material from a first container to a second container, the latter being typically an applicator. The first container includes a neck and a base opposite to the former. The base includes through openings that cooperate with a cable passed therethrough for supporting the first container. A nozzle assembly includes an inlet removably connected to the neck and an outlet hat is selectively closed with a removable plug. A cover assembly is selectively and removably mounted to the first container covering the nozzle assembly. A flexible conduit is removably connected to the outlet, at one end, and the other end includes a regulating valve that is actuated from the outside. The other end is removably connected to the second container so that the transfer of the granular material can be accomplished without spillage and the contents are kept hermetically isolated from the outside.

OTHER RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a national stage patent application of thePCT/CR2002/000004, with international filing date of Jun. 6, 2002, whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container and coupling system fortransferring granular and other materials.

2. Description of the Related Art

Several designs for container and coupler system have been designed inthe past. None of them, however, includes the features claimed herein.

Applicant believes that one of related references corresponds to U.S.Pat. No. 5,967,383 issued to the inventor in the present application,Edgar Hidalgo, on Oct. 19, 1999 for a container and coupler assembly fortransferring granulated material. The patented coupling system includesa connecting threaded assembly that is frictionally and snugly mountedinside the neck of the container. The upper wall of the connectingthreaded assembly includes at least one off-centered opening. Thepatented invention includes a cap assembly that is rotatably andcoaxially mounted over the connecting threaded assembly and the formeralso includes at least one off-centered opening that is selectively madeto coincide with the off-centered opening of the connecting threadedassembly. A spring is used to bias these two assemblies to make therespective off-centered openings not to coincide. A coupling ringassembly is firmly mounted inside the neck of a pump dispenser. The capassembly engages the coupling ring assembly. A gasket member is used toachieve a hermetic sealing engagement between the dispenser and thecontainer. A user can dispense granulated material from the container toa dispenser by achieving a hermetically sealed engagement without comingin contact with the material. However, it differs from the presentinvention because the patented invention required substantialmodifications of the second container, which is typically an applicatorused for fumigation, which has been obviated with the use of theflexible conduit, nozzle and cap assemblies of the present invention.Additionally, the use of a base that cooperates with a hanging cablefacilitates the transportation of the first container in the field.

Applicant believes that another related reference corresponds to CostaRica patent No. 2519 issued to the inventor of the present application,Edgar Hidalgo, in 1999 for a coupling system for pump and box forloading and unloading of granulated agrochemicals and others. Thispatented invention includes a valve, with two concentric cylindricalmembers and a collar-shape member. The valve is mounted to a containerand the collar-shape member to another container. The collar-shapemember receives and secures the valve and couples both containers somaterial can be transferred from one container to the other using thegravity force. However, there is no disclosure here of the nozzle,flexible conduit and cap assemblies, as mentioned above, nor of a basethat cooperates with a cable for its support and transportation.

Applicant believes that other of related references corresponds to CostaRica patent No. 2552 issued to the inventor of the present application,Edgar Hidalgo, in 1997 for an improvement to the above mentioned CostaRica patent No. 2519. This patent incorporates to the parent patent aautomatic closing mechanism, several packing assemblies to get animpermeable and hermetic closing of the system, a cover to protect thevalve and several minor modifications to improve the system operation.However, this invention does not teach the use of a flexible conduit,nozzle, cap assemblies and the use of a base that cooperates with ahanging cable facilitates the transportation of the first container inthe field, as in the present invention discloses.

Applicant believes that other of related references corresponds to CostaRica utility model No. MU115 issued to the inventor of the presentapplication, Edgar Hidalgo, in 1997 for a container for transferring,transporting and storage of granulated agrochemicals and others. Thiscontainer is used with the system describes in the above mentioned CostaRica patent numbers 2519 and 2552. This is ergonomic designed containerto facilitate its handling while it provide and impermeable and hermeticclosing system. However, the patented invention differs from the presentinvention for the same reasons discussed above.

Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a numberof more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem inan efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novelfeatures of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide acontainer and coupling system for safely storing and transportinggranular materials.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container andcoupling system that permit the safe transfer of granular materials toother containers.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aspherical container and coupling system that is secure, hermetic andeasy to manipulate.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device thatis inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining itseffectiveness.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the followingpart of the specification, wherein detailed description is for thepurpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitationsthereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consistsin the details of construction and combination of parts as will be morefully understood from the following description, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a front elevational view of the preferred embodimentfor the spherical container, object of the present application, with apartial cross section showing its inner upper configuration. Also thenozzle, the flexible conduit, the regulating valve, the cap and thesecond container are represented.

FIG. 2 shows a front elevational view of the spherical container with apartial cross section showing the interior of the lower portion of thespherical container.

FIGS. 3A; 3B; 3C and 3D illustrate isometric views of four embodimentsfor the cap assembly removably mounted to the second container.

FIGS. 4A; 4B; 4C and 4D show isometric representations of alternatedembodiments for the regulator valve.

FIG. 5 shows a front elevational view of four stacked up sphericalcontainers with their respective valves and including partialcross-sections to show the interlocking engagement.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-section elevational view showing the outletnozzle, the cover, the O-ring and the plug.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section elevational view showing the flexible conduitmounted to the nozzle at one end and the other end connected to theregulating valve and the cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generallyreferred to with numeral 10, it can be observed that it basicallyincludes spherical container assembly 1, nozzle assembly 2, flexibleconduit assembly 3, regulating valve assembly 4, cap assembly 5 andcontainer assembly 6, as seen in FIG. 1.

Spherical container assembly 1 is used to store, transport and transfergranulated products to other containers 6 or vice versa. As best seen inFIG. 2, spherical container assembly 1 is a compact and hermeticcontainer to provide safe and easy manipulation of its contents. Thespherical configuration for container 1 is preferred, but also a conicalor other suitable shape that permits the ready evacuation of thegranular material can be used. Container assembly 1 has circular base 14for stable upright support. Circular base 14 extends with afrustroconical shape and includes openings 13 for receiving therethroughcable 100. Step walls 41; 42; 43 and 44 are coaxially and annularlydisposed inwardly from the center of base 14. Spherical containerassembly 1 includes threaded neck 9. As seen in FIG. 2, bottom portion19 includes circular base section 14 with through openings 13, internalhorizontal sections 42 and 43 and inward vertical sections 41 and 44.Horizontal sections 42 and 43 and vertical sections 41 and 44 defineinternal cavity that cooperates with the shape of upper section 27 ofcontainer 1 and cap 15 when they are vertically stacked.

Two handle members 11 (only one is shown in FIG. 2) are cooperativelydisposed on the outer surface of spherical container assembly 1, in oneof the preferred embodiments. Depressions 40 are formed around handlemembers 11, undulations 40 and bottom portion 19. Handle members 11diagonally opposed with respect to each other. Handle members 11 have,in the preferred embodiment, a mushroom shape and they are mounted todepressions 40 formed on the outer wall of container 1. The concaveshape of depressions 40 permits the user to achieve a good grip withhis/her hand.

As seen in FIG. 2, outlet nozzle assembly 2 includes transferring valve36 and cover member 15. Transferring valve 36 has internal thread 2′that mates with threaded neck 9 to removably mount to each other.Transferring valve 36 also includes peripheral skirt 2″ integrally builton top wall 2′″ which includes central opening 49. Top wall 2′″ has anunderside with circular groove for receiving gasket 8 that coacts withthe rim of threaded neck 9 to achieve a hermetic enclosure. Peripheralend 113 includes peripheral notch 45 that snugly receives O-ring 16 tofurther ensure the hermeticity and isolation of the granular materialcontained within container assembly 1. As best seen in FIG. 6, covermember 15 is rigid and snugly fits over peripheral end 113 that, alongwith plug member 50, keeps the contents of spherical container 1hermetically sealed.

As best seen in FIG. 6, outlet nozzle assembly 2 has neck 7, end 36,internal threaded portion 19 and peripheral external cutout 12 formounting any additional sealing element. Outlet nozzle assembly 2 alsoincludes O-ring receiving peripheral notch 45 and through opening 10adjacent to the lower portion of peripheral external cutout 12.

As seen in FIG. 6, gasket 8 is mounted on the top portion of threadedneck 9 to provide a hermetic sealing effect when outlet nozzle assembly2 is cooperatively coupled to threaded neck 9. Plug 50 is removablymounted to opening 49 to ensure that the product is kept insidecontainer assembly 1 when container 1 is stored or being moved. Finally,cover member 15 is removably mounted to outlet nozzle assembly 2. O-ring16, mounted to O-ring receiving peripheral notch 45, keeps cover member15 in place.

As best seen in FIG. 7, flexible conduit 3 has two ends. One of the endsis removably connected to nozzle assembly 2 and the other end housesregulating valve assembly 3, which includes an inlet receiving thegranular material entering from the end connected to nozzle assembly 2.

As seen in FIGS. 4A; 4B and 4C, regulating valve assembly 4 includescylinder 4 a with bottom wall 36 that has through openings 31 andcentral opening 39, as best seen in FIG. 4A. Cylinder 4 a also includesslots 38 on its lateral wall 28. Second cylinder 4 b with bottom wall 32has through openings 33 and inwardly and perpendicularly extendingcentral cylindrical protrusion 35 with slot 35′ at its top end, as bestseen in FIG. 4B. Second cylinder 4 b also has outwardly extendingflanged edge 29 extending outwardly from the rim of lateral wall 54 andprotruding annular wall 30 around the central portion of its lateralwall 54. Second cylinder 4 b has tubular member 34 with central throughopening 46. Once inserted cylinder 4 a inside second cylinder 4 b, asshown in FIG. 4C, pin 50 is passed through opening 46 and slot 38 tolimit the movement of cylinder 4 a inside second cylinder 4 b. Also, oneend of spring member 52 is inserted in slot 35′ and the other end isengaged to pin 37. Through openings 31 and 33 can be made to coincide byaligning them, which is achieved by the application of a force of apredetermined magnitude to overcome spring member 52 that keeps them outof alignment and consequently in closed position, as best seen in FIG.4C.

FIGS. 3A; 3B; 3C and 3D show four embodiments for cap assembly 5removably mounted to container assembly 6. Embodiment 5A is representedin FIG. 3A and it has flat top wall 21 with central opening 26.Embodiment 5B is represented in FIG. 3B and it has convex top wall 18with central opening 26. Embodiment 5C is represented in FIG. 3C and ithas concave top wall 23 with eccentric opening 26 and arched handle 24;and he embodiment 5D represented in FIG. 3D has concave top wall 23 withcentral opening 26 and interrupted arched handle 19. Embodiments 5A; 5B;5C and 5D also have plugs 20 to removably close openings 26. L-shapeslots 22 adjacent to the top of openings 26 receives tubular member 34,as explained below.

As best shown in FIG. 7, to assemble container and coupling system 10for transferring granular and other materials, a user inserts neck 7 oftransferring valve 36 in one of the ends of flexible conduit assembly 3.The other end of flexible conduit assembly 3 is mounted to regulatingvalve assembly 4 until top with flanged edge 29. The other side ofregulating valve assembly 4 is mounted inside opening 26 of cap assembly5. Tubular member 34 is cooperatively inserted in L-shape slots 22 tolock regulating valve assembly with cap assembly 5.

The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of theobjectives and advantages of the present invention. Differentembodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. Itis to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

1. A container and coupling system for transferring granulatedmaterials, comprising: A) first container means having first and secondends, opposite to each other, said first end defining a neck and saidsecond end defining a base member that further includes at lest onethrough opening and cable means cooperatively passing through said atleast one through opening for supporting said first container means inan inverted position; B) nozzle means sealingly and removably mounted tosaid first end, said nozzle means having a top wall with aperpendicularly extending peripheral skirt, said top member furtherincluding a raised tubular portion having a through aperture and theinterior of said tubular portion having a substantially frustroconicalshape to facilitate the evacuation of said granular material when saidfirst container means is in said inverted position and said nozzle meansis mounted thereto; C) flexible conduit means having third and fourthends, said third end cooperatively and removably receives said tubularraised portion; D) regulating valve means having an inlet and an outlet,said inlet being removably connected to said fourth end for receivingthe granular material that has entered through said third end and saidoutlet dispensing said granular material, and said valve regulatingmeans further including actuating means that are actuated externallyfrom said conduit means; and E) second container means including anopening connected to the interior of said second container means andremovably receiving said outlet, and further having a cap assemblyremovably mounted to said second container means covering said opening.2. The container and coupling system for transferring granulatedmaterials set forth in claim 1, wherein said regulating valve meansincludes means for keeping said regulating valve means in closeddisposition and selectively opened upon the application of a force of apredetermined magnitude to said actuating means.
 3. The container setforth and coupling system for transferring granulated material set forthin claim 2 wherein said means for keeping said regulating valve means inthe closed position includes a spring member.
 4. The container set forthand coupling system for transferring granulated material set forth inclaim 3 wherein said first container means has a substantially depressedarea and further including handle means extending perpendicularlyoutwardly from said depressed area so that the manipulation of saidfisrt container means is facilitated.
 5. The container set forth andcoupling system for transferring granulated material set forth in claim4 wherein said first container means has a substantially sphericalshape.